Top Tips On Buying Quality Gold Jewellery
Gold has been a prized possession since the earliest days of human history
, and gold jewellery is something that never goes out of style. This lovely metal also has the benefit of being malleable, so it can be flexibly worked into any shape and does not break easily.The following guide will give you the need-to-know advice on different quality levels and terminologies for gold, to help you buy a quality piece that fits both your tastes and budget.
Recognising Degrees of Purity in Gold Jewellery
In terms of its purity, gold jewellery is measured in karats. The highest would be 24K, which is 100% the genuine article.
The next levels which you will most often find at a jewellery shop are:
18K this will contain 18 parts gold and 6 parts of one or more additional metals (75% gold).
14K 14 parts gold and 10 parts of one or more additional metals (58.3% gold).
12K 12 parts gold and 12 parts of one or more additional metals (50% gold).
10K 10 parts gold and 14 parts of one or more additional metals (41.7% gold). This is the minimum karat that can be sold as "gold".
In Europe, gold jewellery is marked with numbers that indicate their percentage of gold:
18K is marked 750 (75% gold).
14K is marked 585 (58.5% gold).
10K is marked 417 (41.7% gold).
Further markings that you might come across on gold jewellery in addition to the amount of karats it contains are a trademark that identifies its maker and perhaps the item's country of origin.
The Mixing of Additional Metals with Gold
The fact is that pure gold is soft, so its not always practical for jewellery that is used for daily wear. Thus, mixing gold with additional metals (effectively producing an alloy) will make it more durable, plus it will lower the cost.
By adding other metals to a gold mix, metallurgists are also able to change its colour. The addition of palladium or nickel creates white gold, copper produces a rose or pink tint and silver will give gold a greenish cast.
Now lets take a look at the different variants of gold and metal mixtures that you can buy:
Solid Gold
Solid gold can be used to describe an item that has at least 10K (in the US) gold all the way through.
Coated Gold
This is when a jewellery piece has a coating of gold applied to its surface. The thicker the layer, the less likely it is to wear away and expose the metal underneath.
Gold filled items will have markings that indicate how much and what type of gold was used for the layer. For example, a marking that says 1/20 12K G.F. means that the jewellery is at least 1/20th 12K gold in weight.
Gold plated jewellery will generally be thinner than a gold filled variant, so it tends to wear away more easily.
Gold washed is a term used to describe a piece of jewellery which has a very thin layer of gold applied to it, so you will run the risk of it wearing away very quickly, particularly if you wear the item every day.
The Type of Gold That Will Suit Your Needs Best
Obviously, youll ideally want to buy the highest quality gold that your budget will afford to ensure it stands the test of time. Nevertheless, as mentioned above, some jewellery items wont be suited to daily wear of pure gold since its rather soft.
Especially in these thrifty economic times, not everyone can afford to go for 24 karat gold. You will also do well with solid gold, and you can range from 18k to 10k to suit your finances.
If solid gold stretches your budget too far, opt for gold filled or plated gold, which will be suitable for occasional wear. Daily use will wear the layer off and expose the metal underneath, which will not only diminish the items beauty, but can cause allergic reactions.
This brings us to a final important point to consider - whether you have allergies to nickel and other metals or your skin tends to react with alloys to create a tarnish stain. If this is the case, youll definitely want to go for a high gold content, such as 22K or 18K.
Conclusion
A beautiful piece of jewellery is something you will want to keep for life, particularly if it has special sentimental value. Thus, always aim for the highest quality gold that your budget will allow to ensure it stands the test of time.
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